Harvester for grow tower agriculture production systems

Abstract

Harvesting systems for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture that includes vertical grow towers or other grow structures. Some implementations of the invention include a two-stage grouping mechanism that increases the amount of plants or crops harvested from a grow tower. Some implementations of the invention allow for harvesting of grow towers having grow sites on opposing faces.

1 . A harvester for harvesting crops in a grow structure, wherein the grow structure has a first face including one or more grow sites thereon and second and third faces extending from opposite sides of the first face, comprising
 one or more harvesting mechanisms;   an infeed mechanism configured to convey the grow structure along a channel to the one or more harvesting mechanisms;   a grouping assembly comprising first and second grouping members disposed on opposing sides of the channel, wherein the first grouping and second grouping members each comprise a grouping surface defined therein, wherein the grouping surface is configured to force crop matter extending from a grow site of the grow structure to converge as the grow site passes along the first and second grouping members;   
       wherein the grouping surface has a first end and a second end, wherein the grouping surface at the first end extends substantially parallel to the first face of the grow structure, wherein the grouping surface at the second end extends substantially perpendicular to the first face of the grow structure, wherein the grouping surface transitions from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         2 . The harvester of  claim 1  further comprising a lead-in grouping mechanism comprising a first ramped surface member disposed over the second face of the grow structure when located in the channel, and a second ramped surface member disposed over the third face of the grow structure when located in the channel, wherein the first ramped surface member terminates at the first end of the grouping surface of the first grouping member and wherein the second ramped surface member terminates at the first end of the grouping surface of the second grouping member. 
     
     
         3 . The harvester of  claim 1  wherein each grouping surface includes a plurality of air holes defined therein, and wherein the harvester further comprises a compressed air system to deliver air to each grouping member. 
     
     
         4 . A harvester for processing a grow tower, wherein the grow tower includes grow sites on opposing first and second faces thereof, the harvester comprising:
 an infeed mechanism operative to convey the grow tower along a channel, wherein the opposing first and second faces of the grow tower are oriented horizontally;   an upper lead-in feature disposed over the channel, wherein the upper lead-in feature comprises first and second ramped surfaces meeting at a first leading edge, wherein the first leading edge is disposed substantially over a central axis of the channel;   a lower lead-in feature disposed under the channel, wherein the upper lead-in feature comprises first and second ramped surfaces meeting at a second leading edge, wherein the second leading edge is disposed substantially under the central axis of the channel;   a first side grouping mechanism comprising first and second grouping members disposed on opposing upper and lower sides of the channel, wherein the first grouping and second grouping members each comprise a grouping surface defined therein, wherein the grouping surface is configured to force crop matter extending from a grow site of the first face of the grow tower to converge as the grow site passes along the first and second grouping members;   wherein a first side of the upper lead-in feature terminates at a first end of the grouping surface of the first grouping member and wherein a first side of the lower lead-in feature terminates at the first end of the grouping surface of the second grouping member;   a second side grouping mechanism disposed across the channel opposite the first side grouping member and comprising third and fourth grouping members disposed on opposing upper and lower sides of the channel, wherein the third and fourth grouping members each comprise a grouping surface defined therein, wherein the grouping surface is configured to force crop matter extending from a grow site of the second face of the grow tower to converge as the grow site passes along the third and fourth grouping members;   
       wherein a second side of the upper lead-in feature terminates at a first end of the grouping surface of the third grouping member and wherein a second side of the lower lead-in feature terminates at the first end of the grouping surface of the fourth grouping member; and
 a harvesting mechanism disposed along the channel adjacent to the first and second side grouping mechanisms. 
 
     
     
         5 . The harvester of  claim 4  wherein the grouping surface for each of the first and second grouping members has a first end and a second end, wherein each grouping surface of the first and second grouping members at the first end extends substantially parallel to the first face of the grow tower, wherein each grouping surface of the first and second grouping members at the second end extends substantially perpendicular to the first face, wherein each grouping surface of the first and second grouping members transitions from the first end to the second end; and wherein the grouping surface for each of the third and fourth grouping members has a first end and a second end, wherein the grouping surface for each of the third and fourth grouping members at the first end extends substantially parallel to the second face of the grow tower, wherein the grouping surface for each of the third and fourth grouping members at the second end extends substantially perpendicular to the second face of the grow tower, wherein the grouping surface for each of the third and fourth grouping members transitions from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         6 . The harvester of  claim 4  further comprising an outfeed mechanism disposed in the channel after the harvesting mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The harvester of  claim 4  wherein the infeed mechanism comprises a pneumatic roller disposed on one side of the channel and a drive wheel disposed on an opposite side of the channel. 
     
     
         8 . The harvester of  claim 7  wherein the grow tower further comprises grooves extending along upper and lower faces thereof and between the first and second faces, and wherein the pneumatic roller and the drive wheel are configured to engage the respective grooves of the grow tower. 
     
     
         9 . The harvester of  claim 4  wherein the lower lead-in feature further comprises a ramped surface angled upwardly along the channel. 
     
     
         10 . The harvester of  claim 4  wherein the upper lead-in feature further comprises a third surface contiguous with the first ramped surface and extending parallel to the channel, and a fourth surface contiguous with the second ramped surface and extending parallel to the channel. 
     
     
         11 . The harvester of  claim 10  wherein the lower lead-in feature further comprises a third surface contiguous with the first ramped surface and extending parallel to the channel, and a fourth surface contiguous with the second ramped surface and extending parallel to the channel. 
     
     
         12 . The harvester of  claim 4  wherein each grouping surface includes a plurality of air holes defined therein, and wherein the harvester further comprises a compressed air system to deliver air to each grouping member. 
     
     
         13 . The harvester of  claim 4  wherein the harvesting mechanism comprises one or more rotating blades disposed on a first lateral side of the channel, and one or more rotating blades disposed on a second, opposing lateral side of the channel. 
     
     
         14 . The harvester of  claim 4  further comprising a chute disposed under the harvesting mechanism.